Water flotation apparatus



July 28, 1942. L. M LEAN WATER FLOTATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 13, '1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nw/E/v 717 LY LE- M L BAN fruaA/es July 28, 1942. L. MCLEAN 2,291,095

WATER FLOTATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 13, 1959 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 LYLE: M LEAN nw/s/vv-cva I Patented July 28, 1942 a I l I i c umrEo- STATES' PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates generally to mining, and particularly to a water flotation apparatus and process. 2

The main object of this invention is to construct an apparatus andemploy a process whereby values may be recovered from materials at a relatively low cost. and without an appreciable loss of values.

The second object is to construct an apparatu for recovering values with the use of either or both water and/or air.

The third object is to construct an apparatus of the class described wherein the recovery process may be made continuous and in which the degree of concentration may be regulated at will.

The fourth object is to construct an improved form of concentrating table in the form of a punched plate wherein the values may be collected and gravitated to a bleeder outlet.

The fifth object is to construct an apparatus of the class described including an auxiliary storage and settling tank from which the values may be easily withdrawn and which will at the same time afford a means 'for maintaining a predetermined depth of water over the punched plate.

The sixth object is to construct a special form of punched plate which is inexpensive to manufacture and which will afford the least resistance to the concentrating movement of the values.

I accomplish these and other objects in the manner set forth in the following specification a illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a plan of the concentrating section. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan of a section of punched plate.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan of a modified form,

of punched plate.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section through a form of punched plate showing the manner in which the values collect between the holes and the air bubbles pass upwardly through the holes in diverging streams floating the waste material upwardly.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the use of upwardly projecting holes in the.

punched plate.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged vertical section through the apparatus.

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section of a portion of the waste outlet spout.

Fig. 10 is a vertical section through a modified form of the device wherein a trommel is disposed directly above the punched plate. 7

Similar numerals refer to similar throughout the everal views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a cylinder ill which is preferably mounted on the legs II and provided with an inturned flange l2 upon which rests the flange l 3 of a conical funnel l4.

Above the funnel I4 is placed the punch plate l5 which may be of any of the types shown in Fig. 5, Ger 7 although the type shown in Fig. 7 is preferred wherein the plate I 5 is provided with a plurality of holes l6 having the upturned flanges ll formed in the punching process.

The portion l8 of the cylinder l0 extends above the plate IS. A ring l9'is used to clamp the punched plate I 5 upon the flange 12. The member I8 is provided with an outlet opening against which is placed the flanged side 2| of parts the outlet chute 22. The flanged side 2| is pro vided with slots 23 to receive the bolts 24 and to permit the vertical adjustmentlof the chute 22 in order to'vary the heightof the edge 25 which determines the water level 26. A guard 21 is placed around the outlet 20 to prevent the escape of materials therefrom before they can be subjected to the concentrating action of the apparatus.

Across the member I8 is mounted a spider 28 to which the bolt 29 is secured by means of the nuts 30. Under the lower end of the bolt 29 is attached the conical foot 3| which is disposed over the bleeder opening 32. connects the opening 32 with a tank 34.

The tank 34 is connected with the cylinder In by means of a pipe 35 disposed above the punched plate l5. The bleeder pipe 33 is preferably supplied with a valve 36 by means of which the passage of concentrates 31 through the pipe 33 may be controlled.

Air is supplied to the conical member l4 through the pipe 38 from a source not shown under the control of the air valve 39. Water may be admitted from the pipe 40 under the control of the valve 4| to the pipe 38 between the members l4 and 39.

A by-pass air pipe 42 connects the bleeder pipe 33 at a point between the valve 36 and the punched plate IE to the air pipe 38 at a p oint before the air valve 39/ It will be noted in Fig. 5 that the holes l6-A are radial and extend to the bleeder opening 32,

A bleeder pipe 33.

whereas the holes Ii-B are only formed around the outer portion of the plate IA, the purpose being to keep the holes along the radial lines. In Big. is shown punched plate -13 which is surrounded by the wall l3-A across which Journals the shaft 45 of a trommel 4' which is driven by the pulley 41 from any convenient source of power.

Coarse; and fine materialis inserted into the trommel 43 through the chute 48 and escapes therefrom by way of the lip 4! which extends into the chute 22A. This form of the apparatus is especially adapted for use with clay soils which cling to thepieces of rock and hold values to the rocks. with which they ordinarily escape to the dump.

With this its, therocksare tumbled in the trommel directly within the bath formed by the bubbling water on the punched plate lB-A causing the rocks to be cleanly washed and the values separated therefrom and delivered to the punched plate from whence they are recovered in state of agitation and serving as an upwardly propelling medium foathe less dense pieces and particles and enabling values to descend to the surface of the punched plate. I5. The water too is capable of eliminating the dust which is present in dry separation and also renders unnecessary the drying of the materials where dry separation is employed.

It will be noted that as the concentrates 31 collect on the punched plate I, they come to a rest on the relatively quiet zones 43 away from the agitating action of the. bubbles ll.

centration, air is admitted through the pipe 32 under the control of the valve 42-A, causing a reconcentration oi the materials within the bleeder pipe 33 above the valve 36. This can, of

course, be carried on to any desired point.

It must be understood that a body of water is maintained up to the level 26 upon the plate ll caused to flow upwardly through the pipe 38, it

our until the auxiliary tank '34 fills up tothis level.

We now have the combined action of air and water, the water enabling the use of the diflerential in buoyancy between the gangue and the values, and the air serving to maintain a continuous and within the pipe 33. Little or no water enters" into the funnel l3 except through the pipe 43 to offset evaporation and leakage, and this is only in the form of a spray. If, for example, the air flow was cut from the funnel H, the water would pass downwardly through the openings IE; but this does not occur while the device is. in operation. v i

I It must be better understood that the holes I6 are between 20and 30 thousandths of an inch in diameter and arespaced between two and three tenths of an inch apart.

I claim:

An apparatus of the class described, a combination of a perforated plate, the upper surface of which slopes toward an'outlet opening, a bleeder pipe on the under side of said plate connected with said opening, means for maintaining a body of water on upper surface of said perforated plate, means for' forcing water and air upwardly through the openingsin said plate and means for forcing air upwardly through said bleeder pipe.

LYLE MCLEAN. 

